Might the next Picasso also be a science Nobel laureate?
Alexis M. Johnson was awarded a prestigious prize in the “Ramón y Cajal, Who?” competition at the annual Neuroscience Graduate Program retreat. Her piece, entitled Pasta-bilities of SYK Signaling: Immune Activation and Neuronal Destruction, is a marvelous display of mighty microglia inciting toxic tau tangles that contribute to neurodegeneration.
Her artwork was recognized as Most Realistic Depiction of Theme. Lexi’s creativity took flight when presented with an array of art supplies reminiscent of elementary school and tasked to construct an artistic rendering of her research.
Pipe cleaners make up the structure of the neuron, while penne pasta pieces were used as microtubules forming the axon. Fuzzy activated ameboid microglia (shown in green, as is necessary) are shown releasing shiny cytokines onto a vulnerable neuron. This attack contributes to pathogenic tau seeding, depicted using brilliant mixed media of red pipe cleaners and red sharpie contours. In the pièce de résistence, fragmented microtuble penne pieces spray out, fatally injuring our beloved neuron.
Lexi’s artwork imaginatively displays her thesis work in a descriptive yet simple way for an audience of scientists and non-experts alike. Her use of texture to display cell architecture and color to bring emotion are truly impressive efforts.
Her work emphasizes the sentiments: “Long live (healthy) tau! And help end tauopathy.”
